IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 491 

Affirming the support of the United States for Georgia’s accession to the 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 26, 2014 

Mr. POE of Texas (for himself and Mr. KEATING) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Affirming the support of the United States for Georgia’s 

accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 

(NATO). 

Whereas successive United States Administrations have supported Georgia’s aspirations to join the North Atlantic 

Treaty Organization (NATO); 

Whereas the Government of Georgia has met the basic standards for accession, even as specific reforms continue, and 

has consistently displayed its willingness and ability to 

meet the responsibilities of membership in NATO; 

Whereas Georgia’s defense spending, as roughly 2.5 percent 

of GDP, is a half point higher than the baseline 2 percent target set by NATO, which only the United States, 

the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Turkey, and Estonia currently meet; 


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•HRES 491 IH 

Whereas it was declared by the Heads of State and Government participating in the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest, and reaffirmed in 2009 at the Summit in 

Strasbourg and Kehl, in 2010 at the Summit in Lisbon, 

and in 2012 at the summit in Chicago, that Georgia will 

become a member of NATO; 

Whereas the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic 

Partnership, signed in January 2009, outlines the importance of the bilateral relationship as well as the intent of 

both countries to expand democracy and economic programs, enhance defense and security cooperation, further 

trade and energy cooperation, and build people-to-people 

cultural exchanges; 

Whereas the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic 

Partnership pledges both sides to ‘‘strengthen Georgia’s 

candidacy for NATO membership’’, and to work within 

the framework of the NATO-Georgia Commission ‘‘to 

pursue a structured plan to increase interoperability and 

coordination of capabilities between NATO and Georgia, 

including via enhanced training and equipment for Georgian forces’’; 

Whereas the European Union (EU)-Georgia Association 

Agreement, initialed in late November 2013 and expected 

to be signed before fall 2014, opens new opportunities of 

political association and deeper economic integration with 

the EU; 

Whereas the creation of a Deep and Comprehensive Free 

Trade Area is an integral part of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, which aims to gradually integrate 

Georgia into the EU’s internal market; 


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•HRES 491 IH 

Whereas the ongoing EU-Georgia Visa Dialogue and the Visa 

Liberalization Action Plan, being implemented by Georgia, aim at introducing the visa-free regime between the 

EU and Georgia in a secure and well-managed environment; 

Whereas Vice President Joseph Biden stated in Tbilisi in 

July 2009 that the United States ‘‘will not recognize 

Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states’’; 

Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stated in 

Tbilisi on July 5, 2010, that, ‘‘we continue to call for 

Russia to abide by the August 2008 ceasefire commitment . . . including ending the occupation and withdrawing Russian troops from South Ossetia and 

Abkhazia to their pre-conflict positions’’; 

Whereas in October 2010, at the meeting of the United 

States-Georgia Strategic Partnership Commission, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stated, ‘‘the 

United States will not waver in its support for Georgia’s 

sovereignty and territorial integrity’’; 

Whereas the White House released a Fact Sheet on July 24, 

2010, calling for ‘‘Russia to end its occupation of the 

Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia . . .’’ 

and for ‘‘a return of international observers to the two 

occupied regions of Georgia’’; 

Whereas Human Rights Watch concluded in its 2011 World 

Report that ‘‘Russia continued to exercise effective controll over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, preventing international observers’ access and veto in international missions working there’’; 

Whereas the Senate of the 112th United States Congress 

adopted a resolution (S. Res. 175) in July 2011 affirmVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:40 Feb 26, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR491.IH HR491

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•HRES 491 IH 

ing the United States support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the country of Georgia, and calling upon Russia to remove its occupying 

forces from Abkhazia and South Ossetia; 

Whereas the House of Representatives of the 112th United 

States Congress adopted a resolution (H. Res. 526) in 

September 2012 affirming support for the sovereignty, 

independence, and territorial integrity of Georgia and the 

inviolability of its borders, and recognizing Abkhazia and 

South Ossetia as regions of Georgia illegally occupied by 

the Russian Federation; 

Whereas the August 2008 military conflict between Russia 

and Georgia resulted in civilian and military causalities, 

the violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and increased the number of internally displaced 

persons; 

Whereas the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement negotiated 

by the European Union Presidency and agreed to by the 

Presidents of Georgia and the Russian Federation, provides that all Russian troops shall be withdrawn to 

preconflict positions; 

Whereas Georgia in 2010 made a unilateral pledge not to use 

force against Russia or Georgia’s Russian-occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and reiterated that 

pledge in a unanimous parliamentary resolution in 2013; 

Whereas since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has 

been reaffirmed by the international community in 36 

United Nations Security Council resolutions; 

Whereas Russia continues to erect physical barriers along the 

Administrative Boundary Lines of the occupied Georgian 

regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, where Russian 


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•HRES 491 IH 

troops continue to be stationed despite a commitment in 

the 2008 ceasefire agreement to withdraw to preconflict 

positions; 

Whereas Russia has not reciprocated to Georgia’s unilateral 

pledges for non-use of force; 

Whereas the United States supports Georgia’s independence, 

sovereignty, and territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia; 

Whereas at the April 15, 2011, meeting in Berlin, Germany, 

between the Georgian foreign minister and foreign ministers of NATO, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stated, ‘‘U.S. support for Georgia’s sovereignty and 

territorial integrity remains steadfast . . . We share 

Georgian concerns regarding recent Russian activities 

that can negatively affect regional stability’’; 

Whereas the North Atlantic Council Foreign Ministers, meeting on December 7, 2011, applauded the significant operational support provided to NATO by aspirant partners 

Georgia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 

Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina; 

Whereas Vice President Joseph Biden stated in Munich on 

February 2, 2014, that ‘‘there is unfinished business in 

our common project of a Europe whole and free. Georgia 

and the states of the Balkans have unfulfilled aspirations 

for Euro-Atlantic integration. The pace of these integration efforts will be determined by the aspirants themselves. But we too share a responsibility for helping them 

achieve their rightful place in Europe and the Transatlantic Alliance.’’; 

Whereas the Government of Georgia, beginning with the Rose 

Revolution of 2003, has taken significant steps toward 


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•HRES 491 IH 

promoting democratic, judicial, and economic reforms 

and has indicated its intent to continue to make progress 

in these areas; 

Whereas Georgia has initiated positive developments and 

commitments in the areas of constitutional reforms, 

strengthening the role of Parliament, and utilizing international election organizations and transparency; 

Whereas the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human 

Rights, other international observers, and the United 

States indicated that Georgia’s October 2013 Presidential 

election met international standards; 

Whereas international observers have hailed Georgia’s October 2012 parliamentary elections as competitive and complimented the country’s leaders for conducting a democratic vote; 

Whereas Secretary of State John Kerry said in May 2013, 

‘‘We remain committed to Georgia’s territorial integrity 

and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders, and to the continued strengthening of Georgia’s 

democratic institutions . . . and we continue to support 

Georgia’s integration into the Euro-Atlantic community’’; 

Whereas recognizing that members of NATO share a common adherence to democratic norms, Georgia can best 

prepare itself for membership by progressing on its democratic reform agenda; 

Whereas, H. Res. 526 of September 2012 also expresses support for Georgia’s NATO membership aspirations and to 

advance further implementation of decisions taken by the 

allies at the NATO Summits in Bucharest, Strasbourg 

and Kehl, and Lisbon with regard to Georgia’s NATO 

membership; 


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•HRES 491 IH 

Whereas, during the NATO Military Committee (MC) visit to 

Georgia on February 11, 2014, and February 12, 2014, 

General Knud Bartels, Chairman of the NATO MC emphasized Georgia’s significant progress in achieving its 

ambitious defense reforms; expressed the Committee’s 

‘‘strong support’’ for the reforms and its confidence that 

the ‘‘transformation is comprehensive, solid and irreversible’’, also noting that ‘‘The NATO Military Committee 

strongly supports these reforms and looks forward to 

strengthening military cooperation, both in terms of operational engagements and interoperability in order to 

maintain the beneficial partnership we have built 

throughout the years.’’; 

Whereas Georgia has been a reliable partner and ally in enhancing global peace and stability with its contribution to 

operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; 

Whereas in Iraq, thousands of Georgian forces helped guard 

the Iraqi side of the Iraq-Iran border, having redeployed 

from the safety of the Green Zone to accept this dangerous mission; 

Whereas in Afghanistan, Georgia has contributed troops to 

the NATO-International Security Assistance Force 

(ISAF) mission since 2004, and engaged in combat operations in Helmand province side-by-side with the United 

States Marines; 

Whereas Georgia has been the largest non-NATO troop contributor and the fifth largest troop contributor overall, 

serving without any national caveats; 

Whereas, despite the heavy casualties, Georgia is committed 

to remain in the NATO ISAF until the end of the misVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:40 Feb 26, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR491.IH HR491

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sion and stands ready to continue its significant contribution to the NATO’s post-ISAF missions in Afghanistan; 

Whereas Georgia remains committed to provide full transit 

capacity in support of the United States and coalition 

troops in Afghanistan; 

Whereas NATO agreed to include Georgia in the NATO Response Force in 2015; 

Whereas Georgia expressed its intent to participate in EU 

and United Nations-led crisis management and stabilization missions; 

Whereas the United States rejects the long-outdated notion 

of the spheres of influence and strongly stands by the 

principle that sovereign democracies are free in their decision and choice of their own partnerships and alliances; 

Whereas Georgia has sought to strengthen its economic and 

political ties with NATO countries; and 

Whereas the United States has long supported the European 

aspirations of Georgia: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports Georgia’s aspirations to join the 

3 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); 

4 (2) recognizes the significant benefits of closer 

5 economic and political ties between NATO members 

6 and Georgia which will spur economic growth, 

7 strengthen democratic institutions and norms, and 

8 bolster the rule of law in the South Caucasus region 

9 as well as other countries in Eastern Europe; 


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•HRES 491 IH 

1 (3) calls on the Government of Russia to re2 spect the rights of countries to make their own sov3 ereign choices with regard to international partner4 ships, including to join NATO; 

5 (4) urges the Administration and the United 

6 States Department of State to continue to work 

7 closely with Georgia to support its entry into NATO; 

8 (5) acknowledges and supports the progress 

9 made by Georgia in the NATO membership process; 

10 and 

11 (6) urges NATO members to extend a Member12 ship Action Plan (MAP) to Georgia at the NATO 

13 Summit in the United Kingdom in September 2014. 

Æ 


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